Angry Palestinians march in funerals

News briefs

Posted: Sunday, April 01, 2001

By Compiled from wire reports

JERUSALEM -- Thousands of Palestinians marched in funerals Saturday for seven people killed in clashes with Israeli troops last week as scattered fighting continued. Fourteen Palestinians were injured.

Anger against Israel seethed throughout the Palestinian areas as dozens of Palestinian children dressed as suicide bombers led rallies in Gaza and the West Bank city of Ramallah. Palestinian leaders said the six-month uprising against Israel would continue.

Two girls were among the Palestinians injured by Israeli fire Saturday when clashes broke out at three points in the Gaza Strip. At Rafah and Erez, Palestinian protesters threw stones and firebombs at soldiers who responded with live rounds and rubber-coated steel bullets.

McVeigh's father will stay away from execution

PENDLETON, N.Y. -- The father of condemned Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh says he will honor his son's request and stay away from his execution May 16.

''He sent me a letter about his execution and in it Tim said he didn't want me there,'' Bill McVeigh told The Buffalo News in its Saturday editions, adding that no other family members will attend.

Timothy McVeigh, 32, is scheduled to die on federal death row in Terre Haute, Ind. for the April 19, 1995, bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building, which killed 168 people including 19 children.

McVeigh's father told the newspaper he had watched ABC's ''PrimeTime Thursday'', which focused on a new book in which his son admits to the bombing.

''I laid awake half the night,'' he said.

Abortion pill's coverage limited

WASHINGTON -- Poor women whose abortions would not be covered by Medicaid also are ineligible for government reimbursement for the abortion pill RU-486, the government has notified states.

The Health and Human Services Department told state Medicaid directors in a Friday letter that RU-486, like abortions, will only be covered when a pregnancy results from rape or incest or when a woman's life is in jeopardy.

RU-486, marketed by Danco Laboratories as mifepristone, was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in September after years of debate. Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson has said he will order a review of that decision.

Netherlands marries first gay couples

AMSTERDAM, Netherlands -- Four gay couples showed up at City Hall on Saturday, ready to exchange rings and vows and become the first of hundreds to wed under a new Dutch law allowing same-sex marriages.

The Dutch legislation gives gay couples equal rights with other married couples under civil law. It takes effect at midnight.

The couples were welcomed by applause from family and supporters as they arrived at City Hall. The women wore gowns with long trains. Most of the men were in conservative dark suits, although one couple was outfitted in leather.

Bush says proposals will help children

WASHINGTON -- President Bush cited proposals Saturday to bolster spending for children's health and education as further reasons Congress should pass his budget plan.

The president is making the welfare of children the hub of his schedule over the coming week, visiting a boys and girls club in Wilmington, Del., and welcoming to the White House a group that raises money for pediatric hospitals.

Bush said his ''Reading First'' plan would triple the available money to improve and expand reading programs to help all children read by the third grade. He said he also would increase funds for preschool Head Start programs to prepare disadvantaged children to enter school.

This article published in the Athens Daily News on Sunday, April 1, 2001.